The Realization
Sometimes time off just isn’t enough. When you’re working during weeks and ideally resting on the weekends, that’s somehow supposed to give us fulfillment in life. But for so many of us, it leaves us feeling that there is a lack of something.
Over the summer I really felt this. I would work an internship and do online school throughout the week and make the most of my weekends by doing the things I enjoyed. I was doing everything I thought I should be doing to make myself happy and feel productive, but something was missing. Sure the weekends would be wholesome and distracting and full of constant stimulation but as soon as Monday hit, I felt this intense void of dread in my stomach. First I blamed it on my job, but then realized that I enjoyed my internship too much for that to be the case. Next I blamed it on the weekends, that I was doing so much on the weekends that the Sunday scaries felt extra scary. But that deep pit rested in my stomach, and it was still sitting there when I was enjoying my time off too. It was affecting my life more than just as a feeling: I wasn’t sleeping well, I wasn’t doing anything meaningful after work because I felt so tired, and overall I just didn’t feel fulfilled.
The realization hit me on a random afternoon when one too many personal stressors sent me over the edge. It was like a firework of inspiration sending warmth and certainty throughout my chest and down my limbs. I needed a project to work on. I needed to start making videos more, I needed to redo my website and start posting on my blog again, I needed to start creating again.
Applying Creativity Back into My Life
Upon the time I decided that I needed to be creative again, I didn’t have the time to be creative. I think that this is something many of us can relate to and use our lack of time as an excuse to not spend time creating, myself included. However, I had this desire burning within me to create, and I needed to harness the power somehow. This brings me to the google doc technique.
The Google Doc Technique
…Or the notes app technique or the journaling technique it doesn’t really matter what platform you use it just needs to be something where you can write stuff down. That way even when you’re at work on a bathroom or lunch break you can jot down as much creative gibberish as your heart desires. For me, this wasn’t really creating anything, it was more so me creating a plan as to how I was going to be creative once I had the time. I wove my plans to be creative within the busy. I found two good things come doing this.
Benefit Number One
- When I finally had the time to be creative, I had no excuses. I already had a plan and outline of what I wanted to create and the momentum to start. There was no question of how to begin.
Benefit Number Two
- Doing the google doc technique gave me the feeling that I was being creative even if I wasn’t really creating much at all. It got the wheels in my mind turning and got me used to operating from a place of passion, which ultimately led to so many benefits.
The Benefits of Creativity
Out of seemingly nowhere, once I started being more creative, it became easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. My stomach feels lighter. Even though I’ll still hit snooze when I wake up, I am more stoked for the day. I have passions to strive towards and things to create. I feel that I have more positive things to say in conversation. Even as I’m writing this script, being creative is the one thing keeping me from mulling over all of the things stressing me out in life right now. It’s making my life more easeful and more fulfilling. It feels like a light bulb was turned on inside of me.
Creativity when done “correctly” in my opinion, is a passion that is all encompassing, it is always present, no matter if you are at work or with friends or on a trip. When you have something you’re creating, everything becomes inspiration to fuel that thing. Your creativity can be the backbone of what gives you joy in life.
Creating versus Consuming (My Take)
It’s a big trend right now to discuss the difference between creativity and consumption so this little bit of the video is just my addition to that conversation. I honestly think at this point we are all just exhausted. And what I mean by that is doom-scrolling and mindlessly consuming content is exhausting and then when we are exhausted, mindlessly consuming is what we turn to. It’s this positive feedback loop that has very negative consequences. It isn’t that we’ve forgotten how to be creative, it’s that we are just burnt out. It’s interesting because I think in this point of time we have more opportunities than ever to be creative but at the same time it has become harder than ever to actually take action on those passions. I hope this video can inspire someone as to how much creativity can seriously change your life. This channel is about connection and finding joy; creativity and leading a life of passion is such an important proponent to seeking fulfillment. So, as a fun way to close this video, here are 10 creative things I use to replace the time I would otherwise spend scrolling. Making youtube videos is not included on this list, though I do recommend.
10 Creative Things to do Instead of Consume
- Reading and Reflecting
- Create a fun infographic
- Try out a new recipe
- Water your plants
- Create a more nourishing space
- Work on a puzzle
- Create music
- Create a plan (workout, meal prep, routines) to better your wellbeing
- Create a scrapbook or a travel journal or something that reminds you of a special time in your life
- Plan a trip
